Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for appearing before the committee today. I wish him well in the work he is doing and congratulate him on the work he has done so far in what is clearly an unprecedented and challenging time.

My first question concerns the role of accelerated capital spending in terms of labour market activation. The Government has already announced the July stimulus, and the Minister has indicated that in the upcoming budget there will be further capital stimulus. Does the Minister take the view that accelerated capital works, including the retrofitting of social housing and the construction of active travel infrastructures, such as cycle lanes, would counteract some of the significant unemployment figures he mentioned in his statement?